Metal column.



.No. 845,350. PATENTBD FEB. 26, 1907.

' T. H. GILLESPIE. METAL COLUMN.

UNTTED STATES AT ENT OFFTQE.

METAL COLUMN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 29,1906. Serial No. 324,000.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS H. GILLEsPIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MetalColumns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to metal columns of the type composed of aplurality of plates or other members connected together along their sideedges.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the plates or members have always beenconnected by rivets, a method which involves considerable labor andexpense.

The object of my present invention is to produce a column of thisgeneral type in which, however, the members are connected without theuse of rivets or bolts and which shall possess withal the necessarystrength and rigidity for its intended use.

The invention will be more readily understood when explained inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated aconvenient and effective embodiment of the invention. Therein- Figure 1is a side elevation of the column, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line2 2.

The column is composed of main or body members A B in the form ofchannel-irons, as shown, spaced apart a distance depending on the sizeof the desired column and arranged with their flanges a b disposedinwardly or toward each other.

The main members are connected by lateral members Ofor example, in theform of bars or strips-arranged diagonally or at an angle from one mainmember to the other. These lateral members are slotted at their ends,and the flanges a I) extend into these slots. The lips or sides of theslots are then firmly pressed or clamped on the flanges, so that all theparts are rigidly secured together. If desired, the edges of the flangesa b may be thickened or upset, as shown in Fig. 2. This produces a sortof dovetail joint with the lateral members and materially increases thestrength of the column.

The structure described is very strong. In -fact, it is stronger than acolumn of equal weight constructed in the usual way, since none of theparts are weakened by rivetholes. At the same time the construction issimple and comparatively cheap.

What I claim is A column comprising, in combination, a pair of bodymembers in the form of channelirons, spaced apart and arranged withtheir flanges disposed inwardly, and lateral connecting members havingslots engaging the flanges of the body members, the lips of the slotsbeing pressed into firm contact with the flanges, as set forth.

THOMAS H. GILLESPIE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. KERR, SHERIDAN GORTON, Jr.

